Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-09-16
Southern Agriculture.

The New Orleans Times Democrat
prints as usual in September an elaborate
review of the industrial and material sit
uation in the south. Accompanying this
resume are letters from some of the
state executives, including Gov. McEnery,
of Louisiana, Gov. Lowry, of Mississippi,
aud the retiring Gov. Knott, of Kentucky.
These letters show that the thought of
the greater portion of the south is upon
the building of mills and the develop
ment of natural resources. This Is TO
be expected on the tide of
boom which has swollen the gross
amount of capital invested in Is south
ern states from S63 100000 during the
first half of 1886 to S161, 000,0 600 during the
CORES ponding period this year. Cotton
manufacturers here in New England feel
the influence of the southern mills that
are being continually put up in the South,
and the Alabama blasts can be distinctly
heard in Pennsylvania. One looks in
stinstively to the condition of agriculture,
however, before drawing broad conclus-
ions about the material condition of r
country, and the reason that little is said
in these reports is probably the compare
tive hardness of development.
But the South is certainly doing much
to change the hard conditions of farming.
None of the governors above quoted goes
into the subject to any extent except
Gov. Lowry, who says of cattle raising -
1t can be safely said that Mississippi is
making large strides in the direction of
blooded cattle, and Jerseys, Attorneys
and Holsteins can be found in many
counties, and it is said that in Oktlbbeha
county there is the largest herd of Jer-
~ hn Tho
paid to blooded stock has Increased the
number of creameries i'll the state, and
much attention is now being paid to the
making and selling of butter. The ma
tive cattle in the last few years have been
largely increased, and just now it is said
that beef is lower than it has been dur
ing the past eight years.
The significance of embarrassing will
be readily understood in grass growing
countries; but it has been a comparative
ly unknown business to most of the
southern states until late years, and it
may be said now that along the low, sea-
board sections the value to agriculture of
hay stack und a COW is yet to be discov-
cred. Where there is no grass there are
no cattle; where no cattle. no manure,
and where there is no manure the com
mercial fertilizer agent does a more flour
ishing business than the planter.
In some of the southern states there are
bills pending making the notes given for
worthless guano uncollectable. Such a
measure is an issue even in progressive
states like Georgia. few Thousand
dollars spent in cattle would make this
kind of legislation unnecessary.
recent article in the Railroad Gazette,
lamenting the lack of interest in southern
stock raising and the Introduction Of
grasses, has called oat letter from NJ. B.
Hnlyari of New Orleans, who says
Japan clover hay, that was first intro
duced here last summer, was herdly able
to pass inspection, and sold at So per
ton. The inspectors did not know what
1t was. At last six of the car companies
we're induced to try it for their mules,
aud il soon went up TO S14.25 per ton
best timothy hay selling at SIS per ton.
In southwest Louisiana, hundreds of
western farmers have come in on the
heretofore up occupied government and
state lands. Lands have gone up
from S1.25 per acre to SO and SIS.
So great is the demand for land
that new railroad is being con-
structed to accom- modate immigration,
where virgin soil, better than that now
selling at $40 to SIS per acre. can be had
at from 81 to IS per acre. These west
farmers are cutting the native grasses of
the prairie by the thousands of tons for
winter use, and are sending it to New
Orleans for sale. But not only are we
making hay of southern grasses (strictly
SO called) but within the last few years
tens of thousands of acres in Tennessee,
Georgia, Aiabsma and Mississippi have
been seeded to timothy, Kentucky blue
grass favorably regarded North and West.
Mr.. Hi'lsard gives some interesting
figures about the introduction of regis
tered cattle. 1t is plain to see, IL the way
that raising of grasses and breeding of
cattle are being taken up in the western
southern states, the evry best evidence of
a coming era of sound agriculture.